by Stacy Finz
“I know,” she said, wishing with all her heart that it was true.
Chapter 3
It was dark by the time Ethan got home. He parked in the driveway and glanced at his watch. He’d missed supper with Roni and braced himself for a lecture from Alma.
He was halfway inside the door when his daughter flew down the stairs in her PJs and threw herself into his arms.
“Daddy, I’ve missed you.” He lifted her so that they were eye level and she caught his cheeks in her hands and kissed him. “Guess what?”
“What?” He kicked the front door closed.
“Mommy’s coming tomorrow and she’s taking me to buy a new dress for school.”
“Oh yeah.” He exchanged a glance with Alma, who also came to the door. She shrugged.
Goddamn you, Joey.
“How’s my girl?”
“Good.” She squeezed his cheeks together. “Where’ve you been, Daddy?”
“Work, bonny Roni.” He sniffed the air. “Something smells good. Did I miss dinner?”
“We had enchiladas but Grandma saved you some. Did you know there’s a little boy living in the cottage? Grandma met him. Can we go over there and see him?”
“Not tonight, Roni. Maybe tomorrow. Are you going to sit with me while I eat?” It wasn’t a school night. He told himself that they could let the eight o’clock bedtime deadline slide every once in a while.
“Okay, Daddy. Afterward, will you read me a story?”
“You got it, pardner.” He threw her over his shoulder to fits of giggles, then let her down.
Alma made him up a plate while he washed. When he returned to the kitchen, Roni set him a place at the table with the #1 Dad mug she’d given him for Christmas and a drawing she’d made at school.
“This is good, kiddo.” He held up the picture, trying to decide whether the crayon sketch was of a horse or a dog. Whichever, one of its legs was missing. “How was school?”
“Mrs. Richards put George Freeman in a time out and we had tater tots for lunch. Cody McCreedy came over to clean the stalls.” She stood up on her chair.
“Sit on your butt. All the way down, Roni.” He got up to get a beer out of the fridge.
“Use your mug, Daddy.” She waved the #1 Dad cup at him.
He screwed off the cap and filled the mug, taking a long slug before shoveling in a forkful of enchilada. “These are great, Alma,” he said around a mouthful. The last time he’d eaten was breakfast.
“How was your presentation?” she asked.
“I think it went okay. Just glad it’s over. The traffic in the Bay Area sucks. It’s a lot worse than when I did my residency. I don’t understand why anyone would live there voluntarily.”
“Daddy, you said a bad word.”
He chuckled. “You’re right, I apologize. Did you help Cody with the stalls?”
“He let me ride in the wheelbarrow.”
“In her school clothes.” Alma grimaced.
His lips twitched. His stepmother had never taken to ranch life. How she and Ethan’s father had such a good marriage was a mystery. Ethan supposed it was the whole opposites attract phenomena. In the beginning, Ethan and his siblings weren’t too crazy about Alma Perez. They thought she was a snob and the eighteen-year age difference between her and their father was awkward. Alma wasn’t that much older than Ethan’s sister, Mary.
But Alma quickly became an integral part of their family. She never tried to replace their mother, who died from breast cancer while Ethan was in college. But she was the only paternal grandmother Veronica and his sister and brother’s kids had ever known. And they couldn’t get enough of her. Unfortunately, his brother’s family lived in Colorado and his sister’s in New England, so they didn’t get to see a lot of one another.
He finished his enchiladas and though sorely tempted, turned down a second helping.
“You ready for that bedtime story?”
“Uh-huh.” Roni wrapped her arms around his neck and he carried her up the stairs, calling down to Alma, “I’ll clean up after I get Roni to bed.”
But when he came down an hour later, his dishes were cleared away and the kitchen sparkled. He found Alma curled up on the couch with a book. The fireplace crackled. He threw another log on the blaze and planted himself in the recliner.
“So you met the Barneses this afternoon, huh?”
“What a nice little boy. Will you be able to help him?”
“I hope so.” Ethically and legally, he couldn’t get into the details of Henry’s care. But he’d shared enough of the backstory with Alma that she would understand why they were staying on the Circle D Ranch.
The accident was no secret. Some of the media outlets in Maine had publicized the ATV wreck, which had happened in the Jackman-Moose River area. And of course, Mason Barnes’ obituary had run in the New York Times.
“I didn’t realize they were those Barneses.” Alma tucked the throw blanket on the back of the couch around her.
“You’ve been doing your research.”
“Old habits die hard. She’s quite beautiful . . . much more so than her pictures on the society pages.”
“I wouldn’t know.” Unless his patient’s background was relevant to their care, he didn’t pay attention to their social standing. He knew that Brynn and her late husband founded the Barnes Group, probably one of the largest advertising agencies in the country. Whether they rubbed elbows with the Rockefellers or the Vanderbilts was of no interest to him.
“You know who her father is, don’t you?”
“No idea.”
Alma pinned him with a look. “He’s Raymond Herman.” When Ethan stared at her blankly, she said, “The New York Philharmonic.” Another blank stare. “Oh come on, he’s only one of the greatest conductors in the world.”
Ethan wasn’t big on classical music unless you counted Jimmie Rodgers. Now, he was a true classic. “No kidding.”
She slapped him with her paperback. “She seems down to earth, not what I would expect from someone with that kind of pedigree.”
Ethan liked her right off the bat, which wasn’t always the case with his patients’ parents. “She’s a good advocate for her son . . . wants what’s best for him. In my book, that’s all that matters.”
“And of course you didn’t notice how gorgeous she is?”
“I noticed.” He grinned. He’d have to be blind not to. “Thanks for taking over my welcome wagon duties today. I appreciate everything you do around here. The truth is I don’t know what I’d do without you. But if it ever gets to be too much or if you ever feel like Nugget is too bucolic for you I would totally understand, Alma.”
She waved her hand in the air. “And leave my granddaughter? Not on your life. Besides, watching that overly tan, blond Ken doll do the news every night isn’t good for my indigestion.”
Ethan’s mouth quirked and he shook his head. “Get over it, Alma. You’re the one who retired from KRNV. No one told you to go. In fact, I bet they’d take you back in a heartbeat.” She’d been the most popular news anchor in Reno. Everywhere she went in town, people fell at her feet.
“It was time to go. Besides, I wanted Mariana to inherit my spot. We Latinas have to stick together.” She gave him a conspiratorial wink.
“Just as long as you know that Roni and I want you to be happy, even if it means you living in Reno.”
She reached over, pulled his head down and kissed him on the forehead. “Your father was so proud of you. And your mother . . . I just know she’s smiling down from heaven. I’m not going anywhere, Ethan. I’m very happy here.”
She got off the couch and folded the throw into a neat square. “I’m going to start the chile con queso for your rodeo gathering tomorrow and turn in for the night.”
“Alma,” he called as she headed for the kitchen. “What’s this bullshit about Joey taki
ng Veronica shopping?”
“She called while you were away and asked to talk to Roni. She must’ve brought it up on the phone. She’s sneaky, that one.” There was no love lost between Alma and Joey.
“I talked to her on Thursday, told her under no circumstances were we breaking with the court order.” He blew out a breath. “She keeps pushing it.”
“What’ll you do?”
“What I always do. Be the damn bad guy.”
* * * *
Ethan hiked down to the barn the next morning, taking a circuitous route that would have him passing the cottage. He doubted Brynn or Henry would be awake this early. But in case they were, he’d like to check in on the boy.
Much to his surprise, he found Brynn sitting out front on the patio in one of the rocking chairs he’d bought from a local who’d done much of the carpentry in the cottage and big house. She was sipping a cup of coffee and waved to him as he came down the hill.
“Morning. You’re up early.” He pulled the other rocker over and grabbed a seat.
“It’s gorgeous here.” She inhaled the air and closed her eyes.
“I like it. The property has been in my family for generations. My father used to run his cattle here in summertime.”
“Where did they live in the winter?”
“Nevada. About an hour outside of Reno. That’s where I grew up. When my father died, we sold the ranch. It was too isolated. We all wanted something a little closer to civilization, but not too close.” He grinned. “This was my compromise.”
“Well it’s pretty fantastic. We meant to go to town yesterday but never made it. Henry and I plan to go today. Alma said the bowling alley restaurant is good.” She held up her mug of coffee. “Thanks for stocking the cottage with the Keurig, by the way. And thanks for letting us stay in such a magnificent place. I slept better here than I have in months.”
Brynn smiled, making her entire face light up and her blue eyes sparkle. It hit him in the gut the same way it had in his office that first day.
“Glad to hear it,” he said. “How’s Henry?”
Her smile slipped away and her expression grew pensive. “He’s trying to adapt, he’s mourning his father, he’s mourning his legs, he’s dealing with the pain. It’s a lot for an eight-year-old.” Her voice quivered and she turned away to stare out over the horizon.
His first instinct was to squeeze her hand, offer comfort, but he stopped himself from anything physical. “Henry’s a tough kid. We’ll get him through this.”
“Thank you. For everything you’ve done. The cottage . . . well, you’ve been a lifesaver.”
Her eyes swam with tears and again Ethan held himself rigid. Outside the confines of the hospital it was best to refrain from physical contact.
“Let’s hope the Circle D has restorative powers.” He stood and jammed his hands inside the pockets of his down jacket. “When are you heading to town?”
“Just as soon as Henry wakes up. I thought we’d try the restaurant and buy supplies. Is there anything I can get for you or Alma?”
“Nah, we’re good. I appreciate the offer, though. You know how to get there?”
“I think so. If not I’ve got the GPS.”
“You’ve got our number. If you need anything let us know.”
“I will.”
As he started to walk away she cleared her throat. “Uh, I think I heard horses this morning.”
“Yep.” He pointed through the trees at a roofline of a building. “A stable full of them.”
“Would it be okay if I took Henry to see them later?”
“Absolutely. Do either of you ride?”
“No, but Henry likes animals. I just thought it would be nice for him to pet them or say hello.”
“They’re friendly.” He walked backwards. “Maybe I’ll send my daughter, Veronica, over this afternoon to give you the tour.”
“That would be wonderful.”
He nudged his head at her cashmere coat. “You might not want to wear that, though. The closest dry cleaner is in Reno.”
Ethan tipped his hat and continued to the barn. As he tossed the last flake of hay, he heard a car coming up the driveway. It was a little early for visitors. He started back to the house and saw Joey’s Ford Edge parked in front of the driveway.
Lengthening his pace, he braced himself for a confrontation. She was already in the kitchen when he got inside and Roni, still in her pajamas, was all over her.
He had to admit his ex looked good. Healthy. She’d shed the weight she’d gained in rehab and her blond hair was thick and glossy again.
He’d learned to tell whether she was high by looking at her eyes. Today, they were clear.
She looked up from the table where she was studying Roni’s drawing. “Hey.”
“Hey.” He leaned against the counter.
“Daddy, I’m going to give this to Mommy because you already have a bunch. And she needs it for her fidgetrator.”
“It’s refrigerator.” Joey rubbed her nose against Veronica’s. They’d been kissing like that since Roni was a baby.
“Okay.”
“Can we go shopping now?” Roni asked as she braided Joey’s hair.
“I don’t think the stores are open yet, sweetie.”
“Joe, come talk to me for a minute.” He motioned for her to follow him into the living room.
Veronica started to tag along but Ethan sent her upstairs. “How ‘bout getting dressed, kiddo? Something warm, it’s cold outside.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
He waited until he heard Roni’s bedroom door shut and said, “Why’d you tell Veronica that you’d take her shopping after I explicitly said that the visit was to be here?”
“You said I couldn’t take her to Reno . . . to the Mindbender Mansion exhibit. What’s wrong with taking her to Nugget?”
He tried very hard not to raise his voice. “Seriously? What part of supervised visitation don’t you understand?”
“Fine, come with us, then. For chrissake, Ethan, you can’t even trust me to take our daughter on a short shopping excursion, alone?”
“No, I can’t. Because when I trusted you to protect our daughter you got her out of bed in the middle of the night, drove her to some fucking hell hole so you could score and you were robbed at gun point. My little girl with a 9 mm in her face.”
“I was sick, Ethan. Addiction is an illness.” Her bottom lip trembled, making him feel like an asshole.
But this was about Veronica, not them.
He lowered his voice. “I know, Joe. And I’m proud of you. For rehab, for all of it. But it’s only been six months since you got out. You’ve got to give this time, prove yourself. The Circle D is a big ranch. Take Roni riding, go on a hike. She doesn’t need more clothes. All she needs is her mother.”
Roni came bounding down the steps. She held her hands up high and shouted, “Ready.”
“Change of plans,” Joey said and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “It’s too nice a day to waste inside a store. What do you say we saddle up Chuckie Choo Choo and go for a ride?”
“I say, yes!” Roni jumped around in a circle.
“I say we have breakfast first.” On his way to the kitchen, he gave Joey’s shoulder a squeeze in a silent thank you.
Alma joined them a few minutes later and took over his lame attempt at waffles. She gave Joey a terse “hello” and for the most part ignored her. It didn’t help the awkwardness of the situation. They were functioning as a family, even though they weren’t one any longer.
But if it was good for Roni he’d go through the motions.
Chapter 4
Brynn found a place to park in front of the Ponderosa. From the outside it looked cute. Kind of rustic saloon with a touch of city tavern.
“What do you think?” she asked H
enry.
He craned his neck out the window. “I like it.”
On the other side of the square was the inn Alma mentioned. It looked like something out of a storybook with all its gingerbread and its crisp white porch and potted ferns. Maybe after breakfast they’d take a look inside.
Across from the inn was a barber shop and a police station and in the middle of the square, a park. It was too cold to sit outside but Brynn imagined that the grassy plaza was quite the hangout spot in warmer weather.
She opened her car door and went through the routine of unpacking and unfolding Henry’s wheelchair from the trunk. Inside, a gust of heat hit them, as did the smell of frying bacon.
“Two?” The woman at the hostess stand gathered up a couple of menus.
“Yes, please. If you’ve got a table away from the door that would be great.” She didn’t want Henry catching a chill. All it would take was a cold and his surgery would have to be postponed.
“I’ve got something in the back,” the woman said and led them through a dining room filled with Western-style saloon décor—dark paneled walls, Victorian light sconces, vintage mill work, red velvet curtains, and pleather banquettes.
The restaurant was crowded. There were even people sitting at the bar. She glanced around, looking for the bowling alley, which must’ve been on the other side of the building.
“You two passing through?”
“We’re actually staying at Dr. Daniels’s place. My son is his patient.”
“The Circle D, huh?” The woman winked at Henry. “His daughter, Veronica, plays with our little girl, Lilly.”
“We just got here yesterday afternoon, so we haven’t met Veronica yet. But later, we’re hoping she’ll show us the horses, right Henry?”
He nodded, then turned away to stare at a collection of cowboy hats on the wall. The place certainly made an instant first impression.
“I’m Mariah, by the way. My partner and I own the Ponderosa.”
“Pleased to meet you, Mariah. I’m Brynn and my son’s Henry. I believe he’s already enamored with your restaurant.”
“It does have that effect on people. Would you like me to leave the chair or take it away?” Mariah nudged her head at the table.